Slip-over front for hot air furnaces



May 17, 1938- w. T. WHITAKER 2,117,386

SLIP-OVER FRONT FOR HOT AIR FURNACES Filed March 26, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 JJ7 Z l7 May 17, 1938. w. T. WHITAKER 2,117,386

SLIP-OVER FRONT FOR HOT AIR FURNACES Filed March 26, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 rm; I 3,3 1 fi I I WWI/"MA May 17, 1938. w. T. WHITAKER 2,117,386 I SLIP-OVER FRONT FOR HOT AIR FURNACES Filed March 26, 1936 :s Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 17, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIE signor to Phillips &

Buttorfi Mfg. 00., Nashville, Tenn., a corporation of Tennessee Application March 26, 1936, Serial No. 71,037

6 Claims.

This invention relates to furnaces and particularly to a novel construction of what is known to the trade as a slip-over front particularly adapted to warm air furnaces.

Slip-over fronts of this character are made in two main sections; an upper front section and a lower front section. The upper front section slips over and embraces the feed section of the furnace. The lower front section fits over and embraces the ash. pit of the furnace. The feed door frame and the ash pit door frame are attached to these main sections.

While the slip-over front is advantageous in that it may be readily assembled, yet in conmeeting up these sections as ordinarily constituted, it is impossible to secure and maintain a dust, gas and smoke-proof joint between the sections as space must be left for expansion when the furnace is heating up.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a slip-over front which has the advantages stated, but which is so constructed and assembled that, while expansion is provided for, yet the joints between the sections are dust, gas and smoke-proof.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the medial plane of a furnace front constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a face View of the upper front section;

Figure 3 is a medial section through this upper front;

Figure 4 is a face View of the outer end of the feed section;

Figure 5 is a medial section through the outer 40 end of the feed section;

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the feed door frame which is adapted to be applied to the end of the section shown in Figures 4 and 5;

Figure '7 is a medial section through the feed 45 door frame;

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the lower front section;

Figure 9 is a medial section therethrough;

Figure 1-0 is a front elevation of the ash pit section;

Figure 11 is a medial section therethrough;

Figure 12 is a front elevation of the ash door frame;

55 Figure 13 is a medial section therethrough;

Figure 14 is a section on the line l4-l4 of Figures 2, 6 and 8;

Figure 15 is asection on the line l5l5 of Figures 4 and 6;

Figure 16 is a fragmentary section on the line I6-l6 of Figures 4, 6 and 8;

Figure 17 is a fragmentary section on the line l'l-l1 of Figures 8, 10 and 12.

Referring to these figures, it will be seen that the slip-over front constructed in accordance with my invention includes an upper front section designated generally A, a feed section B, a feed door frame C, a lower front section D, an ash pit section and an ash pit door frame F.

The upper front section is so formed as to provide a horizontal portion Ill, two downwardly extending legs ll defining an opening having an inwardly projecting flange I2 shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. This upper section on opposite sides of the vertical medial plane of the section A and just above the flange I2, is provided with the two inwardly extending lugs l3, these lugs having upwardly and inwardly inclined lower faces, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. At the upper inside margins of the legs H at the junction with the vertically extending transverse web I4, there are formed the bolt holes 15. The upper front section above the web I4 is transversely rounded, as shown in Figure 2. At the lower end of the legs ll adjacent the flange l2, there are formed the outwardly and downwardly extending lugs l6 and immediately above the lugs I6, there are formed the bolt holes I6. E'xtending outward from the body of the furnace (the body not being shown) is the feed pouch or 35 passage ll embodied in the section B, which at its outer end is outwardly enlarged or flanged at 18, and has a cross sectional form at its outer end such as shown in Figure 4, this form being such as to fit closely within the space defined by the legs II and the lower edge of the web M of section A, so that when this section A is inserted over the section B, it will embrace the outer end of the feed passage I 1, as shown in Figure 1. The upper margin of the flanged end of section Bis formed with the upwardly extending lugs l9, which extend rearward any desired distance and the upper edges of these lugs extend downward and forward. These lugs l9 are disposed so as to engage with the lugs l3, as shown most clearly in Figure 1. outwardly of the lugs IS, the flanged portion 18 is provided with the laterally elongated bolt holes 20.

The flanged end of the pouch I! is provided on its under edge with the two downwardly pro- 2 jecting lugs 2|, which are formed with laterally elongated bolt holes. Coacting with the top feed section B is the feed door frame designated generally C, formed with the inwardly projecting flange 22, which extends entirely around the feed door frame C inward of the margin of this frame, and is adapted to fit within the outwardly expanded flange I8 of the feed door pouch H, as shown in Figure 1. On its margin, the feed door frame is formed with the vertically extending flange 23, the upper horizontal portion of which and the portions of the flange extending down on each side of the feed door frame C, overlapping the web I4 of section A and the leg portions II of this section A. The lower horizontal portion of the flange 23 is not recessed on its inner face, but the upper horizontal portion and the two side portions of this flange 23 are grooved at 24 to provide what I will call a cup within which cement or packing may be placed, to form a dust, gas and smoke-proof joint between the upwardly and laterally extending portions of this flange 23 and the horizontal portion I4 and the legs I I of the section A. The section C is provided with an outwardly projecting door flange 25.

This feed door section is formed with bolt holes 26, which coincide when the parts are in place with the bolt holes 20 in the feed section B. The lower margin of the feed door frame is also formed with bolt holes 2! which coincide with the bolt holes in the lugs 2I. The upper corners of the feed door frame C are formed with the bolt holes 28 which coincide with the bolt holes I5 at the upper ends of the legs II. On the side margins of the feed door frame C, there are formed the bolt holes 29 which, when the feed door frame is in place, coincide with the bolt hole Ili in the legs I I of the upper front section A.

The lower front section is designated D. This section has a horizontal portion 33 with a horizontal upper edge and vertical legs 3|, the inner edges of these legs being upwardly inclined and connected by the substantially horizontal portion or web 32 of the lower front D. This portion 32 has an inwardly projecting flange 33, which extends down on the inner margins of legs 3I. The upper margin or edge of the lower front D has the inwardly projecting flange 34. Projecting inward from the lower margin 32 of section D are lugs '35, the underfaces being inclined downward and forward. The upper flange 34 is formed with a pair of vertical slots 36 and outward of these, the upper flange 34 has the vertical slots 31. The slots 36 are adapted to receive bolts passing through the bolt holes in the lugs 2I and the bolt holes 21. The slots 3'! are adapted to aline with the apertured lugs I6 and the bolt hole IB Extending forward from the body of the furnace is the outward end of the ash pit E, defining the ash door opening and the mouth of the ash pit pouch 38, both being designated as section E and constituting the ash pit which forms the base of the furnace. The bottom 39 of the ash pit has the upwardly projecting transversely extending "web 40 and the three upwardly extending lugs II. The upper and side walls of the ash pit E are outwardly expanded or flanged at .42 to receive the inwardly extending flange 41 on the ash door frame, section F, which forms the dust, gas and smoke-proof joint between the sections E and F when packed with furnace cement. The upper wall of this ash pit section is provided adjacent the flange 42 with the upwardly and inwardly extending lugs 43, the forward faces of which extend downward and forward, intersecting the rear margin on the flange 42, as shown in Figure 11. The lower margin of the web 32 of section D is provided with the lugs 35, as previously described, these lugs having downwardly and inwardly inclined lower faces complementary to the downwardly and forwardly inclined upper faces of the lugs 43, and these lugs 35 and 43 come in abutting contact, as shown in Figure 1.

The ash pit opening E constituting the forward end of the pouch 38 is formed on its upper margin outwardly of the lugs 43 with the transversely elongated bolt holes 44, and the web 40 is provided with a pair of bolt holes 45.

Coacting with the outer end of the ash pit E is the ash pit door frame F and provided on the top, bottom and both sides of the central opening 46 with the inwardly extending flange 41 which fits within the flange 42 on section E and when sealed with furnace cement, forms a dust, gas and smoke-proof joint. Extending around the central opening is the vertical flange 48, the inside face of this flange above and below the ash pit door opening and on each side thereof being provided with the recess or cup joint 49 having the same function as the recess or cup joint 24 and adapted to contain packing or cement and face against the margin of the lower front section D against which it fits. At the upper corners of the ash door frame F, there are formed bolt holes 50 which are adapted to register with bolt holes 5I formed in the lower front section D at the upper ends of the legs thereof, and on one side margin of the ash door frame, there is provided a bolt hole 52 which, when the ash door frame is in place, registers with a bolt of the lower front section D. Inward of the bolt holes 50, there are a pair of bolt holes '54 which aline with the bolt holes 44 in the upper margin of the ash pit opening E. The lower margin of the ash door frame F is formed with bolt holes 55, which are adapted to aline with the bolt holes 45 in the ash pit section E.

It will be seen from Figure 14, that the back portion of each lug I6 fits within the corresponding slot 31, that the laterally projecting lugs with the bolt holes 29 overlie the lugs I6, and that the bolts b passing through the apertures 29 and II'i hold the section C and the section A in engagement with each other, but that these sections have sliding engagement with section B,

to which section C is attached.

It will be seen from Figure 15 that the flange I2 of the upper section A rests upon the flange I8 of section B, and that the flange 23 of the feed door section overlaps the web I4 and flange I8, I

and that flange 22 extends beneath the flange I8.

Thus the bolts I) pass through the bolt holes- 26. and 2D in the sections C and B, respectively.

It will be seen from Figure 16 that the upper margin of the lower front section D is disposed between the flange 23 of feed door section C and the apertured lugs 2| of section B, and that the bolts 1) pass through the flange 23, the vertical slots 36 in the section D and the lugs 2I of section B, and that thus sections C and B may rise under expansion with relation to section D, without breaking the joint.

It will be seen from Figure 17 that the flange 41 of section F extends beneath the flange 42 of the frame section E, while the bolts 13" extend through holes 50 and 5| of sections F and D, respectively.

It will also be seen from Figs. 1 and 15 that furnace cement may be disposed between the outer surface of flange 22 and the adjacent surhole 53 formed in one leg face of flange l8 and from Fig. 17 that furnace cement may be disposed between the adjacent surfaces of flanges 41 and 42. It will be seen that this furnace cement will be held within a closed pocket, as it may be termed, closed on its outer and inner faces by the flanges 22 and I8, and closed on its forward end by the flange 23 and on its inner end by the outstanding base of the offset flange I8. I have provided a cup joint or packing recess 24 in the feed door frame packed with asbestos rope or other packing'which, when the feed section or pouch B rises, will continue to bear against the face of the section A and form a gas, smoke and soot-tight joint therewith, and a like joint is provided between the ash pit door frame F and the lower margin of the section D. The beveled lugs l3 and I9 and 35 and 43 are designed for the convenience of workmen in putting the sections together and when the lugs l3 bear against the lugs IS, the upper slip-on section A will be urged downward and forward into a position with its portion l4 flush with the end or extremity of the offset flange It. The lugs 35 and 43 perform the same function as regards the section D. They assist the workmen in putting these sections in place and they cause the section D to move downward and forward so that its lateral margin is flush with the extremity of the offset flange 42.

It will be seen that the whole purpose of my invention is the making of a dust and smokeproof joint on a warm air furnace, and referring particularly to Fig. 1, the following is to be noted:

The part numbered I1, and designated generally B, is a continuation of what is termed the feed section which is part of the furnace. In the same figure, the part designated generally E and numbered 38 and 39, are extensions of the ash pit section upon which the furnace rests. The feed section comes through the upper section of the furnace front. The ash pit section comes through the lower part or section of the front. Inside the termini of these sections I 8 and 42 is bolted a frame numbered 23 on the upper section and 48 on the lower section. Both of these frames are bolted to projections on the ash pit and feed section and extend out beyond these sections and engage the upper front A and the lower front D, as shown at 24 and 49 on Figure 1. This completely closes the joint made by the passage of the extension of the feed section and of the ash pit section designated l8 and 42. When these frames, which are bolted to the extensions of the feed section and ash pit section are turned back to engage the top section of the front and the lower section of the front, a cup is provided numbered 24 and 49, which is packed with cement or asbestos rope to further insure against dust and soot going through the opening made by the extension of the feed section and the extension of the ash pit section.

While I have illustrated sections having a certain definite form for a particular type of furnace, I do not wish to be limited to these details illustrated in the drawings except insofar as these form part of and as stated in. the appended claims, as it is obvious that the same principle might be applied to furnaces having an entirely different design for the several parts.

What is claimed is:-

1. In a warm air furnace, an upper front sec tion having legs and a longitudinal portion, an

upper feed pouch section and an upper feed door frame, the upper front section embracing the pouch section and fitting upon it and the upper door frame interfitting with the open end of the pouch section, being bolted thereto and having a marginal flange overlapping the legs and horizontal portion of the front section, the overlapping portion of said flange having a packing receiving groove on its inner face, a lower front section having a longitudinal portion and depending legs, alower pouch section and a lower door frame, the lower front section embracing the outer end of the lower pouch section and fitting upon it and the lower door frame interfitting with the open end of the lower pouch section and being bolted thereto, said lower door frame having a marginal flange overlapping the legs and horizontal portion of the lower front section and having a packing containing groove on the inner face of said overlapping portion, the upper margin of the lower front section having overlapping sliding engagement with the lower ends of the legs of the upper front section and with the lower margin of the upper door frame.

2. In a warm air furnace, an upper front section having a horizontal portion and depending legs, the inner margin of the front section having an inwardly extending flange, an upper pouch section fitting within the inner margin of the front section and having a laterally and outwardly extending flange at its end, said last named flange contacting with the flange of the upper section, a door frame having an inwardly projecting flange fitting within the flange of the pouch section and having a marginal flange in the plane of the door frame section overlapping the upper front section and having a packing containing recess on its inner face, means connecting the upper front section to the upper door frame section, a lower front section having a horizontal portion and two legs, the inner margins of the lower front section having an inwardly extending flange, a lower pouch section fitting the inner margin of the lower front section and having a laterally and outwardly extending flange contacting with the flange of the lower front section, a lower door frame having an inwardly projecting flange fitting within the flange of the lower pouch section and having a marginal flange in the plane of the lower door frame overlapping the lower front section and having a packing containing recess on its inner face, means connecting the lower front section to the lower door frame but permitting vertical sliding movement of the upper front section relative to the door frame, bolts connecting the upper door frame to the lower ends of the legs of the upper front section, the lower front section at its upper edge being provided with vertical slots receiving said bolts, and bolts connecting the lower margin of the upper door frame to the lower margin of the upper pouch, the lower front section having vertical slots to receive said last named bolts.

3. A front for warm air furnaces, including an upper front section and a lower front section, each section having a horizontal upper portion and two downwardly extending legs, an upper and a lower pouch section, each fitting between the legs and against the horizontal portion of the corresponding front section, and upper and lower door frames fitting against the outer ends of the upper and lower pouch section, respectively, and overlapping the corresponding front sections and having sliding gas-tight engagement therewith, said door frames being bolted to the ends of the corresponding pouch section, and means operatively connecting the upper front section with its pouch section and door frame to the lower front section in overlapping gas-tight engagement and permitting relative movement of the upper and lower sections and the pouches relative to each other.

4. A front for warm air furnaces, including an upper front section and a lower front section, each section having a horizontal upper portion and two downwardly extending legs, an upper and a lower pouch section, each fitting between the legs and against the horizontal portion of the corresponding front section, upper and lower door frames fitting against the outer ends of the upper and lower pouch sections, respectively, and overlapping the corresponding front sections and having sliding gas-tight engagement therewith, bolts passing through the lower ends of the legs of the upper section and through the lower corners of the corresponding upper door frame, bolts passing through the lower margin of the upper door frame and through the corresponding pouch section, the upper margin of the lower front section being disposed behind the lower margin of the upper door frame, the upper margin of the lower front section being vertically slotted to permit the passage of the last named sets of bolts, and means operatively connecting the upper and lower front sections with their respective pouch sections and door frames to each other and permitting the lower edge of the upper front section and its door frame to overlap the upper edge of the lower front section, said means permitting relatively upward movement of the upper and lower sections and their pouches relative to each other. I

5. In a furnace, a pouch, an upper slip-over front section having an approximately horizontal portion and depending side portions, the pouch being formed at its outer end with a laterally offset forwardly projecting flange confronting the inner edges of the horizontal and side portions of the front section, said flange having an outwardly facing shoulder inward of the base of the offset flange, the edges of the horizontal portion and depending side portions of the front section bearing against the periphery of said offset flanges, and a separate door frame having an inwardly projecting flange extending into the ofiset flange of the pouch and bearing against the shoulder at the base of the offset flange, the

door frame having a laterally "projecting flange extending over the forward end of the offset flange and overlapping the face of the front section, this flange having a packing recess on its inner face, and means engaging the door frame with the pouch.

6. In a furnace, an upper pouch approximately rectangular in cross-section and formed at its outer end with a laterally offset forwardly projecting flange around its entire perimeter, there being an outwardly facing shoulder formed at the base of the offset flange, an upper slip-over front section having an approximately horizontal portion and depending side portions, the edges of said portions bearing against the periphery of said offset flange on three sides of the pouch, a separate door frame having an inwardly projecting flange extending into the offset flange of the pouch and bearing against said shoulder, the door frame having a laterally projecting flange extending over the forward end of the offset flange and overlapping the face of the upper section of the slip-over front, this flange having a packing recess on its inner face, a second lower pouch disposed below the first pouch approximately rectangular in cross-section and having a laterally offset forwardly projecting flange around three sides, there being an outwardly facing shoulder at the base of this flange, a lower slip-over front section having an approximately horizontal portion and depending side portions, the edges of said portions bearing against the periphery of the offset flange of the lower pouch, a separate door frame for the lower pouch having an inwardly projecting flange extending into the offset flange of the pouch and bearing against said shoulder, said flange having a laterally pro jecting flange entirely around it extending over the forward end of the offset flange and overlapping the face of the lower front section and having a packing recess on its inner face, the lower pouch at its base being formed to provide a recess into which the flange on the door frame extends, means connecting the flange of the upper pouch with the flange of the door frame, means connecting the depending legs of the upper front section with the horizontal portion of the lower front section, and means connecting the lower front section to the lower door frame.

WILLIAM THOMAS WHITAKER. 

